Plots allotment: VB books Hooda, 3 others for misconduct, fraud

Haryana vigilance bureau (VB) on Saturday booked former Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former IAS officer, DPS Nagal and two other HUDA officials for criminal misconduct, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery following detection of irregularities in the allotment of 14 industrial plots in Panchkula by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in 2012-13.

Haryana vigilance bureau (VB) on Saturday booked former Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former IAS officer, DPS Nagal and two other HUDA officials for criminal misconduct, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery following detection of irregularities in the allotment of 14 industrial plots in Panchkula by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in 2012-13.

The FIR, registered under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code at Panchkula, also makes a mention of 13 beneficiaries of industrial plots and others as accused in the case.

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had on December 15 ordered an FIR against Hooda who was also the chairman of HUDA, former HUDA chief administrator DPS Nagal, former HUDA chief finance officer SC Kansal and a deputy superintendent BB Taneja on the basis of a probe conducted by the vigilance bureau and subsequent advice of the Haryana advocate general.

Khattar, who signed the order for registration of a criminal case against Hooda and others, had also recommended the matter should be referred to the CBI for further probe.

The 14 plots, ranging from 496 square metre to 1,280 square metre, were allegedly allotted at throwaway prices after changes were made midway in the eligibility criteria at the level of the then chief minister.

The VB inquiry established that individuals enjoying proximity to Hooda were favoured in the allotment process by the committee headed by then chief administrator Nagal.

A case was also made out against Hooda as the allotment criteria was modified and approved at his level to allegedly suit these individuals in the allotment. Those who were allotted the industrial plots included Renu Hooda, wife of Rajinder Hooda, late nephew of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Manjot Kaur, daughter-in-law of former Punjab and Haryana high court judge justice MS Sullar (retd) (Manjot’s husband Prabhjeet Singh is a former Haryana additional advocate general), Nandita Hooda, wife of former senior additional advocate general Narender Hooda, Mona Beri, daughter-in-law of BR Beri, former officer on special duty to Hooda, Pardeep Kumar, son of Singh Ram, former secretary to Hooda, KPS Sandhu, a family member of former Kurukshetra University V-C Lt Gen DDS Sandhu (retd), Dagar Katyal, a family member of former senior deputy advocate general Sunil Katyal, Dr Ganesh Dutt Ratan, a consultant with Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and said to be a close friend of Hooda, Aman Gupta, son of former Thanesar Congress MLA Ramesh Gupta, Lt Col OP Dahiya (retd), a relative of Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal, M/s YPT Entertainment House proprietor Sidharth Bhardwaj, son of S Bhardwaj, who is the son-in-law of former MLA Ram Kumar Gautam, who enjoys close proximity to Bhupinder Singh Hooda,Ashok Verma, son-in-law of Ashok Kaka, who hails from Rohtak and is considered close to the then CM.